Means for separating or classifying ores.



No. 856,612.. PATENTBD JUNE 11, 1907.

l H. E. WETHERBEE. MEANS FOR SEPARATING 0R GLASSIFYING DRES.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 25, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

his allor/zeg PATENTED rUNE 11, 1907.

H. E. WETHERBEE. MEANS FOR SEPARATING 0R GLASSIFYING ORES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Deaf/afar Bilnlok after fully described and particularly set4 UNITEDIsTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT E.. WETIIERBEE, oF CLEVELAND, oIIIo, AssIGNoR 0E SIX- TWENTIETHSTo WILLIAM BATTLE, oNE-EIGHTII To JAMES E. LEITCII, AND sEVEN-EoRTIETIIsTo oYEUs W. MERRELL, ALL oF CLEVELAND, OHIO lMEANS FOR SEPARATINC-lv ORCLASSIFYING OFKES.

110.856,612. Continuation of application Serial No` 252,182, filed MarchTo a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT E. WETHER- BEE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Means for Se arating orClassifying Ores, of which the fo owing isa specitication;` theprinciple of the invention being herein explained and the best mode inwhich I have contemplated applying that principle, so as'to distinguish1t from other inventions.

My invention relates to means for separating or classifyingores andparticularly to that class of such means which is adaptedto separate orclassify a mixture of ores of different specific gravities intoconstituent ores.

Said invention consists of means hereinforth in the claims.

' Theannexed drawings'and the following g prove description set forth indetail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such dis-4 closedmeans constituting, however, but one of various. mechanical forms 1nwhich the vprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings: Figure 1 repre# sents a central verticalsection of one form of ore se arator embodying my several imfeatures ofconstruction and operation ,1 Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section ofthe same taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a horizontalcross-section thereof ltaken on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

The body of my improved separating or classifying device consistsprimarily of an cylindrical form shown.

outer stationary casing A preferably of the Secured to the lower end ofsuch casing `is conical bottom member A that terminates in a boss aprovidedwith an opening a. A? suitable discharge pipe A2 is connectedwith boss a and such opening a therein. The rate of discharge throughpipe A2 is controlled by any suitable means as, for example by theinserf tion in the same ofa diaphragm al of any desired size. Formedintegral with bottom member A is a spider comprising four arms a2, Fig.3, that sup orts centrally within the lower portion of t e recentaoleinolosnd bv Specification of Letters Patent.

2'7, 1905. This application filed March 25, 1907. Serial No. 364,283.

thereof should be slig Patented June 11,'1907.

casing A a terminally closed, vertical, conduit a. The lattercommunicates below with a bore or passage c4 in one of the arms' a2, towhich is connected'a valve controlled water supply 'pipe A3. The upperportion of the conduit is provided with a plurality of lateral dischargeapertures a5, preferably arranged in series-bearing a staggered relationtoward each other. Thus, Fig. 1, there are shown three such series of aertures consisting of two apertures each. he number and arrangement ofthese apertures, however, is

more or less immaterial although it is desirable that the aggregatecross-section tly greater than that of water supply pipe A3; this inorder that the liquid may low from the conduit a3 perfectly freely andnot in pronounced jets.

The upper end of casing A is closed by a cap A4 suitably secured theretoand formed with a tangentially disposed discharge orifice a", Fig. 2.duct that portion of the receptacles contents which esca es by thisorifice to such point as may be esired. r

Revolubly mounted within casing A. 1s a yhollow member or drum B, formedintermediately of itssends with a heavy transversely disposed artition bthat divides said drum into two dhambers, one extendin upwardly, theother downward] Said member rests with partition b centrally disposed`upon the upper closed end of conduit a", a cap a' of brassbeingutilized to effect such closure with the object of affording a goodbearing upon which to support the member. The under face of thepartition 1s formed with a corresponding recess b to receive. such ca Ifdesired, an aperture a 1s formed in this ca and the bearing between thesuface of the l)atter and partition b thus lubricated by the water whichis thereby admitted into the same. The upper end of the drum, and'henceof the upwardly o ening chamber therein, is closed by means o a disk orplate B rigidly secured thereto and provided with an integral upwardlyprojecting sleeve b2 that is journaled in a suitable bearing a thereforprovided in ca A4 of casing A. Rotation of the drum'B is e' ected bvmeans A pipe, not shown, serves to confrom suc partition.

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` of a worm gear b3 splined upon this sleeve and a worm b4 meshitherewith.' The material to be separate is designed to be introducedinto the chamber formed by the upper portion of 1the' cylindrical `wallsof drum B vand plate B. To this enda'feedpipe C connected with asuitable sourcek of sup ly is im :troduced throufl'hthe bore of sleeveits lower or discharge end is positioned onlyr a short distance abovethe surface of artitlon b. For the escape of the material rom the drumchamber, a lurality of a ertures b5 are provided in the cy drical'wasoffthedrum substantially on a line-with such uppersurface of partitionThe length of the drum' is such as to cause it 'to extend fromsubstantially the line of juncture between casing A and conical bottomAto nearly the top of cap A4. It will hence be seen that the upperperforated ortion of conduit a3 is laterally surrounded y the lowerportion of the cylin- I drical walls of drum B, as by a flange depend-Iing from partition b. The diameter of the drum is suchas Vto' leave avertical elongated annular spacebetween its outer surface and the innersurface of casing A. This outer surface of the drum is longitudinallyfurrowed or grooved from a. point near its top vto a oint near itsbottom. The number and dept of the'grooves are'such as to form aplurality of lon 'tudinal ribs or imperforate lades be on the ace of thedrum, Figs. land 3. The method of operating my -im roved ore separatingdevice should be fairly o vio us fromV the preceding clescri tion of itsstruc` ture.

ber or B is driven at the proper speed, which depends upon the characterof the material bemg treated as will hereinafter appear,

In such operation t e rotatable memb `means of worm bi Vand worm gearb3.

hile the drum is thuisl more or less ra idly vrotating the ores to beseparated are lie into thev upper chamber in sald drum andsimultaneously therewith a stream of water is admitted into conduit a3.The latter, escaping through apertures a5, is iirst deflected downl 1-wardly by the lower portion ol' the drums wall but thereu on-immediately-rises and flows upwardly7 lling the aforesaid annular space describedasbeing 'left .intermediately y of the drum and casing B. To thisascending annular column of water the ribs b of the rotating drum imparta 4.rotary movement so that the water does not How in a direct but in ahelical upward course. Rising to the top'oi casing A, the stream isdischarged through orifice a, the latter being disposed to correspendwith' the direction of rotation ofthe water. The rotation of the drum,in addition to imparting the above described rotary i motion to thestream oi Water, also serves at the same tune to'centrlfugally dischargethe Y material from within the drum outwardly7 through apertures bf" 1nthe y,drums walls. Such material as 1t thus emerges from within so that,

l that fills the annular space lying intermediately ofthe drum andcasing.

'The heavier ore particles, upon which the force of avity acts morestrongly than the vpower oTthe rotating current to keep the same insuspension, graduall settle through thewater to the bottom of t e casingwhere they are removed through discharge ipe A2. The rate of dischargethrough the outlet thus provided is of course regulated by the insertionof a diaphragm am of the proper size or by suchother means as mi htsuggest themselves as beingI suitable ,n or this purpose. The water thatis prevented from escaping through said outlet necessarily must travelthe upward helical course around member B. ,Now the water thatis-admitted through in'- let pipe A3 is admitted atjust such Va1pressure as is sufficient to enable that part t ere,- of which flowsthrough the annular space between said memberB and the casing to washcan all be kept under constant control and regulated as 1s desired; sothat, 1f upon ex-v amination ofthe resultant products heilig IOOdischarged through pipe A2 and orifice a, v

the separation is iound to be unsatisfactory,

uthe error can be'continuouslv corrected until the ore of desired weightor kind is obtained; In this manner a continuous flow ofpart of lthewater is allowed in an upward direction and. simultaneously acontinuousy flow of another partin a second direction. By oo mbinin theeects of these two currents with the e ect' of the rotary member, arapidly rotating annular column of water having a 'general upward flowis produced .throughout substantially the whole length 'of casing A,while below such column is a relatively quiescent body of water in whatmaybe termed the settling chamber. In view of the action of the annularcolumn of Water, the corresponding portion of the device may be termed a.sorting column. Obviously the plane of demarcation between the settling.chamber andv sorting column will approximately coincide with'that-ofthe lower edge of rotating member B. p

It need scarcely be remarked that the wordsseparation and separatonasemployed herein, are used in theirordinary or general significance.Technically speaking' my invention may be used elther as a separator.

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. that forni of my invention just illustrated and described as aseparator the material l'ed into the machine would have been rpreviouslyY sized by screens. The result of the operation in this case isthesegregation `olE particles having dillerent specilic gravities aswill be evident. In using the maciiiiie as a classiiier, the material isfed thereto without being screened and the two segregated products willrespectively comprise particles having equal settling capacities underfree settling conditions. It is ol course understood that if in thehandling of any )articular material such substitution should be founddesirable, other liquids than water may be used in the machine.

The general process or method of separating or classifying materialsexemplified in the operation of the above described apparatus isseparately set up and claimed in an application Serial No. 281,882, iledby me October 9, 1905.

Other modes of applying the principle of -my invention may be ein loycdinstead ol" the one explained, change eing made as regards-the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the lollowingclaims or the equivalent ol" such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and dis-l tinctly claim asniyinvention 1- 1. In means for separating ores, the conibination of astationary receptacle provided openings for the ingress and egress ofliquid; a positively-driven rotary member in said receptacle which isseparated from the receptacles walls by an. annular space fp'rming asorting column, said rotary member being adapted to impart a rotarymotion to the receptacles contents and to receive and project the oresto be separated into said sorting column intermediate of the top andbottom of the latter; and a source of liquid supply adapted to furnish astream of liquid flowing upwardly through said sorting column from suchingress opening.

2. In means for separating ores, the combination of a stationaryreceptacle provided with openings Jfor the ingress and egress of liquida positively-driven rotary member in said receptacle which is separatedfrom the receptacles Walls by a vertical elongated annular space forminga sorting column inv Which the heavier material is free to descend bygravity, said rotary member being adapted to impart a rotary motion tothe receptacles contents and toreceive and horizontally project the oresto be separated into said sorting column; andaJ source of liquid suplyadaptedv to furnish a stream of liquid owing upwardly through saidsorting column from such ingress opening.

3. In means for separating ores, the com;

4motion egress of l said receptacle which is separated `from thereceptacles walls by a vertical elongated annular s )ace lorming xasorting column in which the heavier material is free to descendbygravity, said rotary member being adapted to impart arotary motion tothe receptacles contents and to receive and horizontally project theores to Vbe separated into said sorting column intermediately ol the`ends ol' the latter; and a source ol" liquid supply adapted to furnisha stream 'of' liquid [lowing upwardly through said sorting column l'romsuch ingress opening.

4. ln means i'or separating ores, the combination with a stationaryreceptacle provided with openings for the ingress and egress ol` liquidand normally open; of a positively-driven rotaryfinember in saidreceptacle adapted to impart a rotary receptacles contents, said lattermember and the receptacles walls being separated by an elongated annularspace forming a sorting column in which the separation is ell`ected,said rotary member adapted to receive the ores to be separated anddeliver them into said sorting column.

5. In means for separating ores7 the coinbiiiation with a stationaryreceptacle pro- .vided with an upper and a lower egress opensaid sortingcolumn; said openings being normally open.

6. 4In means for separating ores, the combination with a receptacleprovided with an upper and a lower egress opening for liquid and anopening for the ingress ol' such liquid; of means in said receptacleforming an annularspace comprising an upper perpendicular elongatedportion forming a sorting column in willich theseparation is ell'eced,and a lower portion forming a settling chamber; said means including apositively-driven rotarymember adapted to impart a rotary to thereceptacles contents and located`hori2ontally adjacent to said sortingcolumn, to ether with means for deilecting currents o liquid laterallyof such rotary member and prior to the entrance of such ycurrents intothe said annular space.

motion to the 7. ln means for separating. ores, the coinbiiiation with areee}'itacle provided with an upper and lower egress opejning'lor liquidand I an openingl l'or the ingress ol such. liquid; ol' means in saidreceptacle forming an annular space comprising an upper portion forminga sorting column in which the separation is el'- iiected, and a lowerportion forming a settling chamber, said means including apositivelydriven rotary member adapted to impart a rotar)l motion to thereceptaeles contents and located horizontally adjacent to said sortingcolumn, such rotary member being adapted to deflect currei'its frombelowlaterally ot' said member.

ln means for separating ores, the coinbination with a receptacleprovided with an upper and lower egress opeiiingi'or liquid and anopening for the ingress of such liquid; of means in said receptaclelorining an annular space comprising an upper portion forming a fsorting column in which the separation is el"- lieeted, and a lowerportion forming a settling chamber, said means including apositivelydriver. rotary member adapted to impart a rotary motion to thereeeptacles contents and located horizontally adjacent to said sortingcolumn; such rotary member being provided with a web or flange adaptedto deliect currents from below, laterally oll such rotary member.

E). ln means l'or separating ores, the coinbination with a receptacleprovided with an upper .and a lower opening 'lor the egress of liquidandan opening for the ingress of liquid; of means located in saidreceptacle forming an upright annular space comprising an upper portionin coininunication with said upper opening and a lower portion incoinniunication with said' lower opening, said means including apositively-driven rotary member horizontally adjacent to said upperportion of the annular space, adapted to iinvpart a rotary motion to thereceptacles contents and adapted to receive and horizontally project theores to be separated into said annular space, said openings for theingress and egress of liquid being normally open, and said rotary memberbeing concentric with the upper portion of the receptacle.

l0. In means for separating ores, the combination otl a receptaclecomprising an upper cylindrical portion and a. lower portion having itsinterior in direct communication therewith, said receptacle providedwith openings for the egress ot liquid and respectively in communicationwith said upper andilower portions, together with an opening for theingress of liquid located below said upper portion; of apositively-driven rotary member having a y vertical axis and located insaid upper portion, said member provided with projecting bladesv havingtheir longitudinal outer edges parallel with the walls of such upperportion and horizontally adjacent thereto throughout substantially theirentire length, said blades being removed from said wall a substantialdistance l'o'rmiiig a l'ree annular space wherein the heavier particlesol ore may descend by gravity unobstructed; and means intermediate ol`the upper and lower portions of said receptacle and adapted to deilectupward currents ol'V liquid laterally of said rotary member. l

l i. .In means lor separating ores, the coinbination oll a stationaryreceptacle provided with openings for the ingress and egress of liquid,a positively-driven rotary member in said receptacle adapted to impartarotary motion to the receptacles contents, said latT ter member and thereceptacles walls being separated by an upright annular space forming asorting column in which the material is separated and in which theheavier inaterial is free to descend by gravity, said rotary memberbeing provided with an interior passage and with lateral openingscoinniunicating with said passage and with said sorting columnintermediate of the top and bottom ol the latter, said rotary memberbeing adapted to receive in said interior passage the ores to beseparated and to project the saine therefrom through saidlaterahopenings into said sorting column; and a source of liquid supplyadapted to furnish a stream of liquid flowing upwardly through saidsorting colun'm from such ingress opening.

l2. In means for separating ores, the combination of a stationaryreceptacle provided with openings for the ingress and egress of liquid;a revoluble member in said receptacle having a vertical aXis andprovided with an interior passage together with a plurality 'ofprojecting blades running in the direction of such axis, said revolublemember and the receptacles walls being separated by an upright annularspace-forming a sorting column in whichv the material is separated andin which the heavier material is free to descend by gravity, saidinterior passage communicating with said sorting column intermediatelyof said blades and at points intermediate of the top and'bottom of saidrevoluble member; and a source of liquid supply' adapted to furnish astream of liquid flowing upwardly through said sorting column from suchingress opening. l

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13. In .means for separating ores, the combination with a receptacle comrising an upper cylindrical portion and a ower'portion having itsinterior in direct communication therewith, said receptacle providedwith openings for the egress of liquid andrespeetiveljr` Y incommunication with said upper and lower portions, together with anopening for the ingress of liquid located `below said upper portion; ofa positively-driven rotary member having a vertical axis and located insaid outer edges parallel Wit upper portion, said member rovided With Ispace wherein the heavier particles of ore proJe'ctlng blades havinglthelr longitudinal may descend by gravity unobstructed. 1c

the Walls of such u per portion and horizontally adjacent t ereto throuhout substantially their entirev le h, said b ados being removed fromsaid wa s a substantial distance forming throu hout their length a freeannular perpendicu ar Signed by me, this 21st day of March, 1907.

' HERBERT E. WETHERBEE. y Attested by-r D. T. DAyIEs,

JNO. F, OBEnLIN.

